Category Archives for "Advice"

Acupuncture: Combating Stress and Shoulder Problems

Stress. We all have it. As an Entrepreneur, I have more than my fair share. As a hair stylist, I wear my body down on a daily basis. I recently decided to try acupuncture on the advice of our massage therapist Shauna Wright.

I met Dr. Ben Townsend at his office just three blocks from the salon. He gave me a series of health surveys and questionnaires. ​ He then took the time to get to know my past health history and my major concerns.

I came back a few days later to begin treatments. Dr. Ben Townsend recommended a series of dietary changes that were simple but he thought would begin to address some of my symptoms. He then said we'd begin a series of treatments to address my stress and my shoulder pain. For years my shoulder has been clicking or scraping. This is a result of my job. I thought that was nothing more I could do than get regular massage with Shawna and my regular Yoga Practice with Marc Guilarte.​

We began by me laying down on a table. Dr. Townsend inserted needles into various points in my body. He then applied some radiant heat. I felt flashes of energy and felt heat moving all over my body. It wasn't painful. I barely even felt the needles. I laid there and listened to some relaxing music for a bit and then it was over. I felt more relaxed, despite being insanely stressed before treatment, and that feeling continued over the next few days.

I have had subsequent treatments where I have received Acupuncture, cupping, more nutritional recommendations, and I have to say I have just continued to improve.

Today I went for treatment. My stress level was at about a 9.9 on the scale and my shoulder was tight, sore, and clicking like all get out. 60 Minutes later I felt like my stress had dissolved and my shoulder was moving freely and no longer clicking.

Clean Teeth From Renaissance Dental Center and Dr. Anna Abernathy

I'm embarrased to say it but until recently it had a been a LONG time since I had my teeth cleaned. I'm a religious twice a day brusher and flosser so I thought what could possibly be going wrong? I recently decided it was time to get the cleaning done and make sure everything is going OK.

Dr. Anna Abernathy is one of the dentists at Renaissance Dental Center located right past North Hills inside the Beltline. I decided to give it a try.

First let me say that the office is STELLAR. Talk about raising the bar in Dental Care! I was surprised by the amenities. ​I checked in to my appointment and was offered a plethora of comfort options! You want it or need it they have it!

Let's take a look at what they have to offer before you even get in the dental chair:

A Variety of Beverages

Single Use Toothbrushes in the Bathroom

Massage Chairs !!!!

Warm Blankets

Eye Compresses

Towels

Friendly Staff

TV, Comfy Chairs, Magazines

Snack items

I didn't really have time to wait long (didn't even get to finish my massage but I did after the appointment). I was greeted by their fabulous front desk staff and then lead back to some very comfy and neato Dental Chairs. This bad boys are state of the art.

My hygienist was gentle and did the normal thing but she made sure I was comfortable. She even offered me noise cancelling headphones! WHAT THE WHAT! ​

My teeth were cleaned and I have really never been more comfortable. Dr. Anna came in and took a look and she advised me that I needed a deep scaling. Periodontal Disease is common on my Dad's side of the family so I figured I would hear that. I was concerned because the last time I got deep scaling it was incredibly painful. Dr. Anna assured me that I would not experience discomfort and we'd do it at a pace I was comfortable with.

I am uninsured so Dr. Anna said we'd do it at my pace and in my budget. I was pretty thrilled. I got some great at home recommendations, a clean bill of dental health and was then escorted to one of the friendliest billing ladies I have ever met. She reviewed my plan and gave me a timeline based on my ability to save for the treatment!

All in all I can't tell you how pleased I was with my experience. If you are looking for a Dentist I highly recommend checking out Renaissance Dental.

Are you getting ripped off?

I believe in Integrity! My Mother taught me that the only thing worse than a liar and a thief was a murderer. I have lived my life based on that lesson. I have taken lesson that into my practice as a business owner and a hair stylist. I have seen a lot in my years as a hair stylist and I want to let you know that a lot of you are getting ripped off! Let's explore how you are getting taken for a ride.

Everyone Does Not Need a Base Break or Smudge

I see a lot of people in my salon chair that are convinced they need a base break or a "smudge" every single time they go to the salon. They are often charged $50 or more for this service. This service is a chemical hair lightening service to lift the hair 2-3 levels to make a highlight more effective for those that have darker hair. It is a special case scenario at Parvati's Mirror and is only done on those that need it most. We charge between $20 and $25 for this service. Some salons in Raleigh believe EVERYONE gets this service regardless of needs and level. This is simply a rip off. They charge $50+ for this service and everyone gets it. It is often poorly executed, resulting in brassy roots and less than appealing hair.

Why would they do this to you?

This is a great way to "pad a ticket" to use an industry term. This is a way to charge clients more money for something they don't need. Some salons in the Triangle make this a standard practice. I'm here to say this needs to stop.

At Parvati's Mirror we believe that each person gets a customized plan that tells them what they need and how often they need it. They can be assured we'll stick to the plan unless their desires change or their needs change.

We will give you consistent pricing because you need to budget and so do we. We won't create a "hair crisis" to make sure you spend more money this week to pad our bottom line. Integrity matters more than the bottom line at the end of the day. This is our promise to you.

I know it is awful. It is awful to consider that your stylist is trying to ripp you off. It happens. You like them. They are a good person. Remember they have a boss! That boss has to have the integrity to worry more about you than they do their pocket book.

If you need a stylist you can trust we encourage you to give us a call and schedule a consultation.

We promise to be 100% honest, 100% sincere and give you the best advice possible. We want to build a relationship you can trust. ​